Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli

*Book received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Zoe Zola is one of ten invitees to an Agatha Christie symposium. Tempers flare…and then there are nine. Can Jenny Weston save Zoe from murder on the Upper Peninsula?

Little Person author Zoe Zola believes that one of the unluckiest things in life is to receive an invitation—in the form of a letter edged in black—to an Agatha Christie symposium at an old Upper Peninsula hunting lodge. Her reluctance dissipates when she learns that the organizer is named Emily Brent—the name of a character poisoned by cyanide in Christie’s And Then There Were None.

As a dreary rain soaks the U.P., Zoe and nine other Christie scholars—each of whom bears a vague resemblance to one of the classic mystery novel’s characters—arrive at the lodge. At the opening night dinner, arguments flare over the experts’ discordant theories about Christie. Next morning, the guests find one particularly odious man has gone—whereabouts and reasons unknown. Such a coincidental resemblance to a work of fiction is surely impossible; therefore, it appears to be possible.

As the guests disappear, one by one, Zoe resolves to beat a hasty retreat—but her car won't start. She calls her friend, amateur sleuth/little librarian Jenny Weston, but Jenny will have to wait out a storm off Lake Superior before she can come to the rescue. If Zoe’s to stay alive to greet Jenny when she eventually arrives, she’ll have to draw on everything she knows about Agatha Christie’s devilish plots in Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli’s fourth tantalizing Little Library mystery.

This was a very interesting storyline, though a little slow at times.… (meer)

In Want of a Knife is the third book in the Little Library Mysteries series. While delivering newspapers, Harold Roach finds the body of a woman on the side of the road outside Bear Falls, MI. Janice Root, a 17 year old local, was apparently killed by a hit and run driver. But soon, another local girl, Camille Otis, disappears. Are the two incidents related? Where is Camille? Local Librarian Jenny Weston and author Zoe Zola team up to investigate.

This is the first book in this series that I've read. I had a bit of trouble connecting with the characters. I found the three main female characters to be a bit bitter, whiney and annoying... But that could be because I jumped into this series on book 3. I have the first two books on my TBR shelf and I'm going to read them....then return to this book and re-read it. I might change my opinions a bit once I have the full background and knowledge of the prior two books. As it stands, this cozy was an ok read, but nothing outstanding. It seemed a bit trope-y to me with its Pride and Prejudice references (two characters named Charles Bingman and Fitzwilliam Dillon, for example...and one character writing a book about the crappy treatment of women in Austen's time.) and predictable plot. It might be a case of this series just not being my cup of tea. Not every book will engage every reader. I love the Little Library concept...great background theme for a cozy series. I just didn't like the characters or the P&P references. Fell flat for me.

I will go back and read from book 1 and see if that improves my opinion. I will edit this review if it does.

Just an ok read for me. Entertaining enough as cozies are light reads....but not enjoyable enough for me to continue with this series.

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Crooked Lane via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**… (meer)